Vinicius Junior scored his 10th goal of the season on Sunday when Real Madrid beat Granada 4-1.
Vinicius Junior scored his tenth La Liga goal of the season when Real Madrid beat Granada. AP photo
Vinicius Junior scored his 10th goal of the season on Sunday when Real Madrid beat Granada 4-1 and shot their way back to the top of La Liga.
Marco Asensio and Nacho Fernandez brought Madrid within the first 30 minutes lead in Los Carmenes, where Granada briefly turned it into a game when Luis Suarez withdrew a goal only to be blown away in the second half.
Vinicius finished a splendid pass from Madrid and was then at the end of a hasty foul by Granadas Monchu, who was sent off 23 minutes before the end of the game.
With the addition of the man, the lead was never really in doubt and Ferland Mendy made it to a convincing win that sent Madrid over Real Sociedad.
Sociedad only drew 0-0 at home to Valencia and are now one point behind Real Madrid in second place after playing one more game.
Carlo Ancelotti can focus his attention on the Champions League game l will judge at Sheriff Tiraspol on Wednesday, although qualification for the round of 16 has not yet been secured.
Inter Milan are two points behind in Group D and Sheriff is only one point behind.
However, Madrid seem to be on the move after taking its fourth straight win and increasing its unbeaten run to seven in all competitions. They will face runner-up Sevilla next weekend.
Vinicius was a key player and the Brazilian was back on track against Granada, which scored double-digit goals for Madrid for the first time in a season. He’s already four more than he did in all of last season.
With Eden Hazard sick and out of favor and Gareth Bale injured, the third striker, alongside Vinicius and Karim Benzema, is one of those in the Ancelotti starting line-up are up for grabs.
Asensio reinforced his claim with a clever goal in the 19th minute when Granada was expropriated in midfield and Toni Kroos sent Asensio behind the defense.
« There is a lot of competition, but when he plays, the most important thing is that he played well, he scored and brought his best qualities, « said Ancelotti.
Nacho scored the second goal six minutes later and, after a nifty short corner, turned between the impressive one Kroos and Luka Modric hit the near post against the crossbar.
Vinicius’ rougher edges were exposed for Granada’s goal when a sloppy touch left Suarez room to unleash from a distance and a distraction from Nacho g no chance from Thibaut Courtois.
But all hopes for a comeback were quickly dashed when Vinicius made the three in the 56th minute and Monchu was sent off in the 67th.
Benzema would have hit it himself Can go goal, but played in Modric at the back post. The Croat then knocked inside for Vinicius, who had an open net.
A frustrated Monchu slipped on Vinicius, giving Madrid extra security. Casemiro played in Mendy, who deservedly finished fourth.
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There was also an undeniable upturn in sentiment at Camp Nou, with 74,418 spectators almost double the 37,278 Barca drew here against Alaves two weeks ago.
Barcelona and Juventus would not even qualify for European competition from their current position ninth and eighth respectively, as they are preparing for life without Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Athletic Club is one of only three teams, along with Barcelona and Real Madrid, that have never been relegated from LaLiga.
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